Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-10-01

Wy ""iy covered neau In that vast assem-
plage We took our stand upon tho brazen
space, little knowing what was prepared for
Us beneath, but l noticed a curious Kissing
sound proceeding apparently from tho floor
Tor which could not account Then came =
pause, and looked round to zee II there was
any sign OF the two queens, Nvleptha and
5orais, but they were not there. To tho
right OF US, however, was a bare space TINT I
guessed was reserved for them.
We waited, and presently far of trum-
PEI blew, apparently high up in tho dome
Then came another murrnur from tho multi
tude, and up a long lane, leading to the open
space TO our right, we saw the two queens
walking side by side. Behind them were
some mobiles Of the court, among whom roc.
ognized the great lord Easta and Behind them
again body OF about fifty guards. These
last was very glad u SEQ. Presently they
had all nrrived and taken their stand, the two
queens In front, the mobiles TO the right and
left, and tho guards IN double semicirce
behind them.
Then caino another silence, and NyIeptha
looked up and caught my eye, 1t seemed TO
me that there was meaning in her glance, and
watched itndrrowly. From my eye II tray
eled down to tho brazen flooring, on the outer
edge Of which we stood. Then followed a
slight and almost imperceptible sidelonr
movement OF tho head dbl not understand
II, and IL was repeated. Thon guessed that
she meant us 10 move back of the btazen
lloor. One more glanceand was sure Of IT,
there was danger In standing on the noor
Sir Henry was placed on one side Of me, I'm
,lopogaas on the other. Keeping my eye
liked straight before me whispered TO then,
first In Zulu and then IN English. 10 draw
slowly back inch by inch till half their feet
we're resting on the marble flooring where tho
brass ceased. Sir Henry whispered on 20
Good and Alphonsc, and slowly, very, very
slowly. We shifted backward; 80 slowly, N
deed, that nobody except Nyleptha and 30
rails, who saw everything, seemed to notice
the increment. Then | glanced again at Nv
leptha and saw that, By an almost impcrcep-
tble nod, shc indicated approval. All tho
while Agons eyes were fixed upon tho altar
before him, apparently In an ecstasy Of con-
temptation, and mine were fixed upon the
small Of his back in another sort OF ecstasy
Then suddenly he flung up his long arms, and
IN solemn and resembling voice commenced
achant, OF which for convenience take OPP
pend a rough, very rough translation here.
though, OF course, / did not then comprehend
It's meaning. was e.: !!rsyccatior to the sun.
and ran somewhat as follows.
"There is silence upon the face Of the Earth and
the waters thereof.
Yea, the silence doth brood on the waters like n
nesting bird;
The silence sieepeth also upon the bosom OF The
profound darkness
Only high up In the great spaces star doth speak
unto star
The Earth is faint with longing and wet with the
tears of her desire;
The star gIrdled night doth embrace her, but she
IL not comforted, I
She lies enshrouded in mIsts like corpse In the
grave clothes,
And stretches her pale hands 10 the east.
face;
Thou drawest around Thee a thick curtain Of
shadows. IS -"--
lhen the Earth grows cold and the Heavens are
They tremble, and The sound thereof is tae sound
OF thunder,
They weep, and their tears are outpoured n the
rain;
hey SIGH end the wild winds are the voice 81
their signing;
he flowers die, the fruitful fields. languish and
turn pale; -
he old men and the little children go unto their
appointed place
Vhen Thou withdrawest Thy light, 0 SUM
dorf s.'i''S''- '
sho set T'hoc on high, 0 Thou flaming Terror
Vhen df,ist Thou begin end when is the day Of /
thy ending.
rr.f fJ.o, rel, 20
one did place Thee on high, for Thou vast tba
Beginning - |
ioI shalt not be euded wien Thy children are
Oy, Thou shcit never end, for Thy hours are t
eternal. & ~
hou sttest on high within Thy golden house and
measurest cut the centuries ~
Father o. Life! dark dispeEing slnl,' 9A 2
Ec csaasd this solemn chant, which, though
seems q poor enough thing after roine :,
rough My mill, Is really beautiful and i'm. 2
essive ii the original; and then. after !,
omcnt's pause, DO glanced up toward the Z
incl sloped opening in the dome and =
ded: :,
70 Sen, deacead upon Thine Altar. Il
Az he spoke o wonderful and beartiful o.
Ing happened. Down from on high flashed b
plendid living ray Of light, cleaying til. Ii
Tight like asword OF Dire. Full tipon the OF
sod petals 1t fell and ran siiInn,ering down fr
pr golden eides, end then the glorious al
"er opened as though beneath the bright N
luence: Slowly it opened, and as tho great
ais fell Wide and revealed the golden altar sia
which the fire ever burns, the priests blew Gel
last upon the trumpets, and from all the ca
,plo there rose shout Of praise that beat Il.
inst tho domed roof and came ecboino la
IN tho marble walls. And now the flower de
II was open, and the sunlight fell fun upon ca
tongue Of sacred fame and beat 1t down. 20
hat II wavered, sank, and vanished into ]
hollow recesses whence It rose. Al n thc
lished, the mellow notes Of the tru,npets Ill
ed out once moro. Again the old prieOt :
lg up bis hands end called aloud: me
I'VE sacrifice to Thee, o Sum- ON
'nce more caught Nyleptha's eye: IL was !,
d upon the braxen flooring. les'
Look OUT said aloud; and as said IL. II sac
Agon bend forward and touch something =
he altar. As hc did SO, the great white III
OF faces around us turned red and them ma
10 again, and deep breath went up lilo the
niversal sigh. Nyleptha leaned forward /
with an involuntary movement covered ical
eyes with her hand. Gorais turned ard pas
spered to tho officer Ct the royal body wr'
I'd, and then with rendihg sound tho prs
10 of tie orazen flooring slid from before que
feet and there In its pInce was suddenly not
,aied smooth marble shaft terp1inatipg Us